An eight-page FEMA Fact Sheet is located here. While part of this is focused on government procedures, pages 3-8 include information INDIVIDUALS and SMALL BUSINESSES may find helpful. There is, for example, an “Individuals and Households Program” that can provide up to $33,300 in damage recovery funds for items not insured.

Additionally, they will be announcing smaller satellite and mobile offices soon. For more information, please read their full press release here.

If you think you may be eligible for assistance, note that FEMA operates on a first in first out basis. Over the entire Gulf Coast Region, over 600,000 claims have been filed thus far. The portal for applying is disasterassistance.gov.

The nearest to our district is at 263 Greenspoint Mall, Houston, 77060. It will be open 7am-7pm. For more information from their official news release, please click here – FEMA DRCs 091017.

First, CALL the Harris County Debris Hotline? 713-274-3880 to ensure you are on their list. They will be coming through neighborhoods, but they could inadvertently miss your address if not on the list and in a more isolated area. The more general Harris County Precinct 4 Community Assistance number is 281-353-8424 is recommended for other questions relating to Harvey Recovery issues.

Harris County advises debris should be within 10 feet of the curb for their machines to reach it, but private contractors might not have that limitation.

Vehicles cannot be obstructing debris or access to streets.

Mechanized equipment will pick up everything in piles, including mailboxes, fire hydrants, etc. DO NOT PUT DEBRIS AROUND PERMANENT ITEMS.